Morocco mourns war hero who spent 25 years in jail on Algerian soil

Known for his patriotism, resilience and bravery, fighter jet pilot Ali Najab has died at the age of 81, leaving a book that recounts the horrors of the proxy war that has been waged by Algeria on Morocco since 1975.

Najab spent 25 years in a jail in the Algerian territory administered by the Polisario militias after his jet was downed. He was released in 2003 and has since then dedicated his life to defending Morocco’s sacred cause: territorial integrity.

Najab fell captive to the Polisario separatist militias and endured 25 years in a jail in a territory that has been abandoned by Algeria to the separatist militias.

He recounted all sorts of degrading treatment suffered by Moroccan prisoners of war by the Polisario militias in his book “25 years in the Tindouf prisons.”

Najab spoke on behalf of the tortured Moroccan heroes who have defended Morocco’s unity and territorial integrity in a proxy war imposed on Morocco by Algeria.

Najab has dedicated his life since his release to highlight the sacrifices of all the martyrs who had given their lives to defend Morocco.

He died leaving a legacy, a book, interviews and conferences to remind the younger generation of Moroccans that the retrieval of the Sahara came on the back of sacrifices, abnegation, and bravery of Moroccan soldiers facing a proxy enemy in the battlefield.